Crispy Ground Beef Croquettes: Golden Outside, Juicy and Savory Inside

Put a platter of these on the table and step back.

The first one gets eaten standing up. The second one gets dipped in sauce. By the third, somebody is asking if there are more in the kitchen.

Why Everyone Loves a Homemade Croquette

Beef croquettes are a beloved snack across Brazil, Portugal and Spain, sold in bakeries, served at birthday parties and packed for road trips. In Brazil they are called croquetes de carne, and every family has a favorite way to season them.

What makes them so good is the contrast. The outside is a crunchy, deep golden breadcrumb shell. The inside is tender seasoned ground beef bound with a soft, savory dough that keeps every bite moist and juicy.

They look like something from a bakery case, but they are made with very simple ingredients: ground beef, onion, garlic, a little flour and milk, eggs and breadcrumbs. Nothing fancy, nothing hard to find.

My favorite part is that you can make them ahead. Shape and bread them in the morning or even a month before, freeze them on a tray, and fry them straight from the freezer when guests arrive. They are perfect for game days, holiday parties, after-school snacks, or a casual dinner with a salad and rice.

Ready to make a batch? Here is what you will need.